health


Council chiefs call for ‘urgent investment’ in children's health visitors 21/03/2019 The health visiting service is ‘stretched to its limits’ due to underinvestment and a shrinking workforce, local authority leaders have warned.
Councils forced to slash stop smoking services 15/03/2019 Government cuts mean only half of local authorities now offer smokers the best support to quit, according to campaigners.
Council bans anti-abortion protests near clinic 07/03/2019 Richmond has prohibited anti-abortion protests outside a pregnancy advisory clinic after a consultation revealed the majority of residents supported a ban.
Public satisfaction with the NHS falls to lowest level in a decade, survey reveals 07/03/2019 A poll of nearly 3,000 people found that 53% of the those surveyed in England, Scotland and Wales were satisfied with services last year.
Council chiefs call for funds to tackle tooth decay 06/03/2019 Cuts in public health funding must be reversed to tackle tooth decay in children, local government leaders have demanded.
Councils have delivered on public health despite cuts, report reveals 04/03/2019 Local authority delivery of public health is ‘effective, accountable, efficient’ despite losing millions in central Government cuts, data reveals.
Planners ‘must do more’ to protect people from pollution 28/02/2019 The Government's health advisers say planning authorities must make sure new building projects protect people from air pollution.
Whitehall to expand access to personal health budgets by 200,000 21/02/2019 Hundreds of thousands more people will be able to access personal health budgets, the Government has announced.
Treatment cut despite ‘soaring’ alcohol-related A&E admissions 11/02/2019 Councils are reducing spending on alcohol and drug treatment services despite ‘soaring’ numbers of hospital admissions due to alcohol misuse, FOI data reveals.
Council to provide free sanitary products in all its buildings 18/01/2019 Free sanitary products are to be provided in all buildings owned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council after it joined forces with a charity to tackle period poverty.
York invests nearly £2m to improve air quality 10/01/2019 City of York Council plans to invest £1.6m in order to reduce the exhaust emissions from local bus services.
Council chiefs warn of dangerous ‘must-have’ toys 24/12/2018 Local government leaders are warning Christmas shoppers to avoid potentially dangerous and fake ‘must-have’ toys.
What will 2019 bring for local government? 24/12/2018 Turbulent waters lie ahead in 2019, says Mark Whitehead, and councils will need to watch events carefully
Clinical Commissioning Groups ‘failing to function effectively’ 20/12/2018 An inquiry into the role of Clinical Commissioning Groups has been launched after a report warned many were ‘failing to function effectively’.
Experts warn of ‘economically irresponsible’ health inequalities 13/12/2018 Senior public health experts have called for action to halt growing inequality in provision of services in the north of England compared to the South.
Leeds first council to provide free sanitary products 13/12/2018 Councillors in Leeds are to consider providing free sanitary products in schools and libraries throughout the city in a bid to end 'period poverty'.
Preventable illness factor in life expectancy slow-down 12/12/2018 Preventable illnesses are one of several factors behind the slowing improvements in life expectancy in England, the national health body warns.
Whitehall to cut £85m from public health budget 10/12/2018 Local authorities have warned they are having to make 'difficult decisions' over maintaining public health services.
Council fined £27,000 over Legionella case 07/12/2018 A district council has pleaded guilty to a health and safety breach after a leisure centre customer contracted Legionnaire’s Disease.
Whitehall announces £1m ‘pocket park’ fund 05/12/2018 Community groups can bid for a share of a £1m fund to help them develop ‘pocket parks’.
Greater Manchester’s reforms ‘as radical as the creation of the welfare state’ 29/11/2018 Greater Manchester is radically overhauling the way it delivers public services in what is being billed as a ‘big test for devolution’.
Public health progress put at risk by cuts 27/11/2018 The Government must restore councils’ public health grants because of their important role in the urgent task of improving public health, according to a report from leading health think tank, The King’s Fund.
Hospitals struggling to care for people with ‘multiple conditions’ 13/11/2018 Hospitals can expect a huge rise in the work they have to do because the number of people suffering more than one condition is increasing, experts say.
Councils call for powers to ban junk food advertising 07/11/2018 Local authority leaders have urged the Government to give them the powers to ban junk food advertising as part of the struggle against childhood obesity.
Whitehall plans to tackle bad health need ‘long-term investment’, charity says 05/11/2018 Health secretary Matt Hancock has said the Government is committed to supporting local councils in improving health locally through ‘innovation, communication and community outreach.’
Grimsby ‘unhealthiest’ high street in Britain 02/11/2018 Grimsby has the ‘unhealthiest’ high street in Britain, according to a study that looks at the impact of the high street on the health of a town’s residents.
Whitehall to review health and safety standards in rental sector 29/10/2018 The Government has announced plans to review the current health and safety standards for rental accommodation.
Whitehall’s response to air pollution ‘lacks ambition’ 29/10/2018 Health bodies have criticised the Government’s approach to pollution and called for legally enforced air standards to ensure cleaner air across the UK.
New tool to tackle cardiovascular disease launched 25/10/2018 The national health body has launched a new tool to help local commissioners decide the best approach to preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD).
More than £3bn a year needed to reverse cuts to public health services 24/10/2018 Over £3bn a year is needed to reverse the impact of Government cuts to public health services, according to an independent health charity.
Virgin Care awarded contract to deliver Lancashire health services 18/10/2018 Virgin Care has been identified as the preferred bidder for the delivery of 0-19 public health services in Lancashire after a legal challenge forced a reevaluation of the bid.
Underfunded care services pressuring NHS, health regulator warns 11/10/2018 Disjointed health and social care services were placing increasing pressure on A&E departments, according to an independent health regulator.
Emergency cash for social care ‘no substitute’ for long-term funding 02/10/2018 Announcement of an emergency injection of £240m into the social care system to stave off NHS crisis is no substitute for long-term funding, campaigners warn.
Online takeaways should be ‘forced’ to display hygiene ratings, council chiefs say 28/09/2018 Local government leaders have called for businesses serving food to be ‘forced’ to display food hygiene ratings to improve standards and protect people.
Liverpool hospital to be built despite Carillion collapse 27/09/2018 The building of the New Royal Liverpool Hospital, whose future was in question after the collapse of Carillion, is to restart, the Government has announced.
Health and care inspection regime leaves ‘room for improvement’ 27/09/2018 The new health and care inspection regime is a ‘significant improvement’ on the previous system, but there is room for improvement, concludes landmark report.
Whitehall asks councils for ‘trailblazing’ ideas to fight childhood obesity 26/09/2018 The Government is asking local authorities to apply to its ‘trailblazer’ programme for tackling childhood obesity.
Council puts tenants at risk by neglecting fire safety regulations 23/08/2018 Arun District Council put tenants at risk by failing to meet statutory health and safety requirements in relation to fire and water safety, regulator finds.
Council defends ban on trampolines 10/08/2018 Oxford City Council has banned the use of paddling pools and trampolines in communal gardens due to health and safety concerns.
Vulnerable offenders increasingly referred to health services rather than prison 10/08/2018 Offenders with mental health, alcohol and drug abuse problems are increasingly being referred to health services as part of community sentences.
Council proposes 10-point plan to tackle air pollution 08/08/2018 Oxford City Council has called on the Government to adopt a 10-point plan to tackle high air pollution levels which contribute to 40,000 deaths every year.
Northamptonshire CC ‘misappropriated’ £8m of health funds, auditors confirm 27/07/2018 Northamptonshire CC used over £8m of ring-fenced public health grant funding for activities that did not meet the grant conditions, auditors conclude.
Severe obesity in children at record high, health body says 24/07/2018 Levels of severe obesity in children aged 10 and 11 have reached the ‘highest point’ since records began, public health body warns.
Whitehall announces £4.5m for ‘social prescribing’ projects 24/07/2018 The Government has invested nearly £4.5m into programmes to refer patients to community services such as walking clubs or arts activities.
Public finances perform better than expected 20/07/2018 Public finances continue to perform better than expectations, although total borrowing is up year-on-year even before the promised increase in health spending.
Councils must ‘simplify’ access to mobility support, charity says 06/07/2018 The process by which local authorities provide support to people with mobility issues is too ‘complex and varied’, elderly persons charity warns.
Make social care ‘free at the point of need’, former health minister says 15/06/2018 Social care should be ‘free at the point of need’ like the NHS, a bold new report into the health and care system recommends.
Tax-raising powers for mayors could help reduce health inequalities, report says 15/06/2018 A leading research group has called for cities to be given more powers to help improve public health.
Kids eating ‘far more sugar than is healthy’, warn health officials 15/06/2018 Children have already consumed more than the recommended intake of sugar for the whole of 2018, according to Public Health England.
NHS announces ambition to cut delayed transfers by 25% 14/06/2018 The NHS has announced that it intends to work with local authorities to reduce the number of long staying patients by around a quarter in preparation for the winter ‘surge’.
Council chiefs back post-Brexit health cooperation with EU 13/06/2018 Local authority leaders have backed a call for continued cooperation with the European Union in order to tackle infectious diseases after Brexit.
Councils to share £19m to boost integration 11/06/2018 Councils in England will receive £19m to help ease pressures on housing, education and health services due to recent migration.
Community groups ‘pivotal’ in delivering personalised care 08/06/2018 Voluntary and community organisations play a ‘pivotal role’ in delivering personalised care, a new report finds.
Church groups supporting ‘struggling’ health care system 31/05/2018 Church groups provide health care and community services worth £3bn a year, according to a new report.
Council chiefs warn NHS trusts £1bn ‘in the red’ 31/05/2018 Local government leaders have renewed calls for extra funding for adult social care after the latest figures showing NHS trusts are almost £1bn in the red.
Brexit threatens UK’s access to food safety systems, warn council chiefs 30/05/2018 Council leaders have called on Whitehall and the EU to ensure the UK's access to food safety and animal health systems remains available after Brexit.
Councils should be given more powers to tackle junk food, MPs say 30/05/2018 Council leaders have welcomed a call for local authorities to be given more powers to tackle the advertising and sale of unhealthy food and drink to children.
Council chiefs warn obesity is ‘ill-health time bomb’ 29/05/2018 New figures show that child obesity is contributing to a 'multi-billion pound ill-health time bomb', local government leaders have warned.
Khan announces £1m school air quality fund 25/05/2018 The mayor of London yesterday announced a £1m fund to help protect pupils attending schools in the most polluted areas of the capital.
National Insurance hike could save social care system, former ministers say 24/05/2018 Former Labour and Conservative ministers have called on the Government to put 1p on National Insurance in order to save the health and social care system.
IFS report reveals extent of social care funding ‘sinkhole’ 24/05/2018 Council chiefs have warned adult social care is facing a ‘sinkhole in funding’ which prevents it from easing the demand pressures on the NHS.
Three areas chosen to pilot health and care records scheme 23/05/2018 Information about patients will be shared between hospitals and GPs in a new 'partnership' scheme being trialled in three areas of England.
Whitehall launches tool to measure air pollution 22/05/2018 The Government’s public health body has launched a new tool to help councils calculate the potential costs of air pollution.
Emergency hospital admissions up 42% in past ten years 22/05/2018 Council leaders have warned the rise in emergency hospital admissions will only be addressed with a long-term, sustainable approach to funding social care.
Integrated health and social care starts with the network 22/05/2018 Darren Turner explains why having the right network in place is key to the succesful integration of health and social care services.
Oral health figures reveal ‘clear inequalities’, health body warns 16/05/2018 UK’s public health body has warned there are ‘clear inequalities’ in oral health with children from deprived areas more likely to be affected by tooth decay.
Council to introduce alcohol and drug tests for staff 10/05/2018 A council in Northern Ireland could soon be introducing a new scheme to test employees for alcohol and drug use.
Parks provide over £34bn of health benefits, report says 08/05/2018 Parks and green spaces across the UK provide people with over £34bn of health and wellbeing benefits, report says.
Increase in drug-related deaths linked to health cuts 27/04/2018 Whitehall should reverse its cuts to local authority public health grants in order to tackle the increase in drug-related deaths, doctors say.
Government launches £4.5m fund to help children with alcoholic parents 23/04/2018 The department for health and social care has launched a new ‘innovation fund’ to help local authorities support children with alcoholic parents.
New Duty of Candour regulations 23/04/2018 Standardised incident reporting will help Scottish health and social care providers cultivate an open work environment and learn from their mistakes, says Pamela Stevenson.
Whitehall cuts to public health budgets result in ‘preventable’ deaths, LGA says 19/04/2018 Local authority leaders have urged the Government to reverse cuts to public health budgets after figures reveal a third of all deaths are preventable.
Obesity driving increase in hospital admissions 05/04/2018 Hospital admissions where obesity is a factor increased by nearly 20% last year, NHS figures reveal.
Car industry should pay more to tackle air pollution, MPs say 15/03/2018 Four committees have called on the Government to force the car industry to contribute to a new clean air fund to help improve air quality.
Council chiefs call for social care funding to save NHS billions 02/03/2018 Government should provide councils with funds to invest in prevention measures to ease the burden emergency admissions place on the NHS, council chiefs say.
Hospital visits for oral pain costs NHS £2.3m 01/03/2018 Local authority leaders have called for more investment in oral health education as research reveals use of A&E for oral pain is costing the NHS £2.3m a year.
Local government and health leaders urged to remake partnership 21/02/2018 Local government and health leaders have been urged to seize the ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to remake their partnership by England’s top A&E doctor.
Can local government lead the world? 20/02/2018 Liz Zeidler explains why a new system has been launched to measure 'true' progress and prosperity.
Key factors for making local area ‘thrive’ revealed 19/02/2018 A Bristol-based charity launched a new report today into the key factors that make up a ‘thriving’ local area - and it goes beyond a narrow focus on gross domestic product.
Outsourcer saves £20m after renegotiating Carillion healthcare deal 15/02/2018 The outsourcing company Serco has negotiated a nearly £20m reduction in the price it will pay for Carillion’s NHS healthcare contracts.
Councils should urge residents to undergo health checks, health body says 09/02/2018 The chief executive of Public Health England (PHE) has called on local authorities to ensure all residents eligible for a free NHS Health Check get an invite.
Drop in delayed transfer figures ‘testament’ to hard work, council leaders say 09/02/2018 Fall in the number of days people have been kept in hospital because of a lack of alternative care is ‘testament to the hard work done by councils’, LGA says.
Councils welcome call for ‘focus’ on housing for older people 09/02/2018 Local government leaders have welcomed a call by MPs for a 'national focus' on providing more housing for older people.
Committees launch joint inquiry on long-term care funding 24/01/2018 A pair of Commons select committees has joined forces to launch an inquiry on the long-term funding and provision of adult social care.
‘Fragmented’ approach to child health damaging nation, paediatricians say 23/01/2018 The Government’s ‘fragmented’ approach to child health care is damaging the health of the nation, paediatricians warn.
Health funding wasted on short-term bailouts, watchdog warns 19/01/2018 Extra health and social care funding is being used to deal with short-term pressures rather than long-term transformation, says the National Audit Office (NAO).
Health and social care reforms being ‘undermined’ by financial pressures 19/01/2018 Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) may not achieve their ambitious plans as they are being forced to grapple with short-term financial pressures, CIPFA has warned.
Funding system for continuing healthcare needs ‘failing’ patients 17/01/2018 The system for funding health and care services is overly ‘complex’ and is ‘failing’ people with continuing healthcare needs, such as Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis, MPs say.
Welsh councils welcome health and social care review 16/01/2018 Welsh local authority chiefs have welcomed the publication of a report into the sustainability of the health and social care system in Wales, but call for more funding.
Council leaders welcome decrease in delayed transfers 11/01/2018 Council chiefs have welcomed a reduction in the number of days patients who are ready to be discharged are left in hospital due to a lack of suitable care.
Council considers using PSPO against anti-abortion protestors 09/01/2018 A council is considering creating a ‘safe zone’ around a women's health clinic in order to prevent intimidation and harassment from anti-abortion protestors.
EXCLUSIVE: Lord Kerslake calls for independent commission on social care 15/12/2017 The former head of the Civil Service, Lord Bob Kerslake, has called for an independent commission on health and social care to open up the debate on funding care with the public.
Older women suffer ‘shocking’ inequalities 07/12/2017 Older people suffer from ‘shocking’ inequalities with women in particular losing out, an older persons charity has warned.
Over 14,000 FGM cases recorded in two years, NHS reveals 06/12/2017 The NHS has recorded more than 14,000 new cases of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) over the past two years, new data reveals.
Health visitors overstretched because of ‘cash-strapped’ councils 05/12/2017 Health visitors worry there will be a tragedy in their area because they are overstretched since ‘cash-strapped’ councils took over service, survey reveals.
‘Wake up’ to problem of loneliness, council chiefs say 01/12/2017 Council leaders have called on people to 'wake up' to problem of loneliness among the elderly which is putting an increasing burden on health and social care.
Private rehab clinics risk killing patients, regulator warns 30/11/2017 A report saying privately-run rehab clinics risk killing patients by handing out too many drugs is a 'wake-up call', a local government leader has warned.
Virgin Care drops case against Surrey 29/11/2017 Private healthcare provider Virgin Care’s legal proceedings against Surrey CC and NHS England have been dropped.
Whitehall should invest £65m in health boards to support Industrial Strategy 28/11/2017 The Government's Industrial Strategy must recognise the importance of public health in economic growth, a group representing local government has warned.
Small changes to homes could save millions in social care costs, charity says 28/11/2017 Making small changes to older people’s homes such as installing handrails could cut costs by millions of pounds a year, according to new research.

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The December issue of Local Government News looks at the consequences a council may face if it is unable to provide statutory services, the launch of Liverpool’s housing company and how councils can best manage roles in local authority companies.

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